It’s officially summertime in sunny Florida! With the change of season, it is crucial to be vigilant of a few things and make some important changes in your skin care routine to counteract aging and protect your skin from the damaging effects of the sun.
1. SPF. SPF. SPF.
Easily the most crucial part of your everyday routine: wear that SPF. Did you know up to 85% of visible aging in the skin is from sun damage? Ouch! Combatting sun damage is the first and most important thing to do especially in these summer months. Even when it’s cloudy outside, damaging UVA and UVB rays are coming into contact with your skin. We have two favorite SPF products, EltaMD and iS Clinical’s Extreme Protect. They don’t feel greasy on the skin and EltaMD even has a tinted option that provides light coverage, so you actually WANT to apply your sunscreen daily 😉
2. Wear a hat. Like all the time.
Hat + sunglasses + SPF = happy, youthful looking skin 😉 Shielding your skin entirely from the sun is just about as effective as it gets! No matter how good you may be at applying SPF, its effectiveness is only good for a few hours (max) and let’s face it, no one is perfect, and you may not always remember to reapply as needed.
3. Antioxidants (Vitamin C)
Just like your body needs antioxidants to be healthy (blueberries, spinach, etc.) your skin benefits from them as well. Applying an antioxidant daily helps to protect the skin from harmful environmental factors including pollution. Antioxidants work by neutralizing free radical damage. What are free radicals? They are unstable atoms that can cause major damage to cells, which in turn causes the classic signs of aging. Antioxidants stabilize the atom and stop the chain reaction of cell damage. Think of your topical Vitamin C product like orange juice in the morning.
Taking these preventative steps to protect your skin during the harsh Florida summer leads us to have less aging to correct in the fall/winter months. Since it is not a good idea to receive corrective treatments such as chemical peels and laser rejuvenation in the heat of summertime, we need to be extra proactive during this time!